The trend in the global scenario has shifted towards concentrating on space and unconventional type of films. Although the Indian cinema is attempting to break new ground in this regard, the local industry though improved on several aspects, has not yet attempted this novel and challenging change.

The launch of a film which will change all this was held at Colombo yesterday, March 24, under the patronage of Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development. This film, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, is a production which spanned nearly a decade on research and development, which evolved with the ever changing leaps in technology.

Based on a story by renowned science fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clark, this ground breaking film will take the Sri Lankan cinema into outer space. Even in the global scene there have been only two productions involving Sir Arthur’s works in the big screen (2001 A Space Odyssey & 2010). Both these were mega level Hollywood productions and ‘Into the Comet’ is the third story by Sir Arthur C. Clarke which is about to be transformed into the silver screen.

The exceptional feature of this film is the handling of all the aspects of the production, including the high end visual effects, entirely by a local crew.

At the helm is Thilanka Perera as Director of the film, the script has been developed from the original story of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, jointly by Thilanka Perera and Maheel R. Perera. The technical crew includes the veteran dditor Stanley Alwis and cinematographer Kavinda Ranaweera.

The story revolves around an exploration of a comet. During the course of the journey they are stranded inside the comet tail due to a malfunction of the computer system. With a dwindling supply of food and oxygen and no help from Earth, which is millions of miles away, the story follows their struggle to survive.

This film will introduce several film making techniques used in Hollywood including new set construction techniques and integrating methods, Stereo 3D film making, etc. to local film industry. After this production Sri Lankan cinema will never be the same.

Source: Lanka Business today (Sri Lanka)